Donovan Swanton
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Donovan Swanton | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donovan S. Swanton |
| Born | September 21, 1891 New York City, New York |
| Died | February 6, 1976 New York, New York |
| Buried | U.S Military Academy WestPoint Cemetery |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service | Army |
| Years of service | 1917 - 1951 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Service number | O-005314 |
| Unit | II Philippine Corps
51st Division (Philippine Army) 2nd Infantry Regiment |
| Commands | 51st Infantry Regiment (PA) |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Bataan |
| Awards | U.S Silver Star w/ 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster Prisoner of War Medal |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy (1917) |
Donovan Swanton (September 21, 1891 - February 6, 1976), was an American soldier who served in both World War I and World War II. He fought in Bataan and became POW when US - Filipino forces surrendered on April 9, 1942. He endured the Bataan Death March and was brought to Taiwan and later in Manchuria where he was liberated in 1945.[1]
Background
[edit]Attended United States Military Academy in 1913 and graduated in 1917.[2] He was sent to France. He went to the Philippines and joined Philippine Scouts in 1938.
World War II
[edit]He was sent to the Philippines in 1940 to serve in the US Philippine Department. In Bataan, he was attached to Motor Transport command[3] before he replaced Colonel Loren P. Stewart as commander of 51st Infantry Regiment who was killed while doing reconnaissance at Abucay Hacienda on January 28, 1942. His regiment stood another assault of the Japanese in February 1942 at Orion-Bagac line. But with heavy cost as his regiment incurred heavy casualties and down to battalion size. 51st Division are now cramped to 51st regimental Combat Team absorbing remnants of 51st Inf, 52nd Inf, 53rd Inf, and 51st Field Artillery. Swanton was named as chief of staff to II Corps in March and the command of passed on to Colonel Adlai Young.[4]
In March 1942, Japanese mounted another offensive against Luzon Force in Bataan in Orion-Bagac line. This time they were able to penetrate Bagac line of II Corps Area. With no help and weary Filipino troops hungry, sick, exhausted due to lack of food, medicines, and ammunition. General King surrendered his troops and all forces including Swanton became POWs. He endured the Bataan Death March and reached Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.[5] Senior American officers like Swanton was shipped through Hellships[1] to Formosa (now Taiwan) and later to Mukden where they were liberated in 1945 upon Japanese surrender.
Swanton was US Silver Star with two Bronze Oak Leaf during his action in Bataan and Prisoner of War Medal.[6] He returned to United States and taught military science at Niagara University until his retirement, he retired as colonel in 1951. He died on February 6, 1976, and was buried at USMA WestPoint Cemetery.[7]
See also
[edit]- 51st Infantry Division, Philippines
- 51st Infantry
- Philippine Scouts
References
[edit]- ^ a b https://www.west-point.org/family/japanese-pow/HudsonFast/BilibidRank.htm.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "United States Military Academy Library 2016 - 2018 Program Review" (PDF): 7.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Quinn, M.A. "Report of Operations, Quartermaster Corps, United States Army in the Philippine Campaign 1941–1942" (PDF): 12.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Ind, Allison. Bataan: The Judgement seat: The Saga of the Philippine Command of the United States Army Air Force. p. 276.
- ^ "Bataan - Japs try to save face". May 10, 1952 [May 10, 1952].
- ^ "Donovan Swanton - Recipient". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ "Donovan Swanton's Memorial". www.vlm.cem.va.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-18.